Access to childcare remains uneven across England, with availability often lower in areas facing higher levels of deprivation. School-based nurseries are one approach used to support access to early years provision alongside education and local services.
The Department for Education has confirmed funding for 331 schools to develop or expand nursery provision, supported by £45 million in investment with rollout expected from September 2026. The programme focuses on increasing childcare capacity in areas with lower access. The government said the expansion is intended to support working families and improve early years provision across England.
Government announces school nursery funding programme
The Department for Education has confirmed a £45 million funding package to support the expansion of school-based nurseries. The programme is designed to increase childcare provision through school settings across England.
- £45 million funding allocation
- 331 schools selected for expansion
Schools selected and delivery timeline
The funding has been awarded to 331 schools across England to develop or expand nursery provision. The new places are expected to be available from September 2026 as part of the programme rollout.
Schools and funding overview
| Schools funded | 331 schools across England |
| Total funding | £45 million allocated |
| Rollout start | September 2026 expected opening |
| Programme phase | Expansion of school-based nurseries |
Focus on childcare access in disadvantaged areas
The programme is intended to increase childcare availability in areas where access is currently lower. Government data indicates that school-based nurseries make up a larger share of provision in more deprived areas compared with less deprived areas.
School-based provision accounts for around 35% of childcare accessibility in the most deprived areas, compared with 16% in the least deprived areas. The programme is being targeted to expand provision in these areas.
Expected childcare places and phased rollout
The Department for Education said the new nurseries are expected to create over 6,000 additional childcare places. The announcement also states this is in addition to up to 6,000 places being delivered through an earlier phase of the programme.
These figures are presented as part of the planned delivery of the programme, with nursery openings scheduled through a phased rollout.
Government support measures for families
The nursery expansion sits alongside wider childcare and cost-of-living support measures. The government said the programme works alongside existing childcare entitlements and related support for families.
- 30 hours funded childcare offer
- Free breakfast clubs saving up to £450 a year
Childcare support measures referenced
| Funded childcare usage | The government said over a million parents use the funded childcare offer |
| Estimated savings | The government said families could save up to £8,000 a year |
| Breakfast club support | Up to £450 annual savings referenced |
| Early Years funding | Additional Early Years Pupil Premium increases referenced |
Policy context and early years development focus
The government has linked the expansion to broader early years policy aimed at improving development outcomes and access to childcare. The announcement states that children in more deprived communities are less likely to reach a good level of development by age five.
The programme is intended to improve access to early education and support school readiness through increased nursery provision.
Ministerial Comments
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister said;
“School-based nurseries are already driving a seismic shift in how childcare supports families. Now we’re going even further to build on what works with over 300 new nurseries – cutting childcare costs, simplifying the school run, and helping parents at a time when household budgets are under real pressure.”
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary said;
“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.”
To Sum Up
The expansion of school-based nurseries sets out a planned increase in childcare provision across England, supported by targeted funding and phased delivery.
By focusing on areas with lower access and integrating nursery provision within schools, the programme aims to improve availability for families while aligning with wider early years and cost-of-living policies.
Sources: Department for Education, Olivia Bailey MP and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
